There's some kind of conspiracy in the air. A managerial one. First there's a concept to make us more productive by strapping a laptop to the waist, and now we find that there's yet another attempt to tether workers to their desks with a new built-in treadmill.

Judging by the photos, it looks as if the "TreadDesk" could even elevate and fire up while you're still typing away, not missing a beat on that Excel spreadsheet. This invention of the devil already has some competition, however: Just a few months ago the "Walkstation" made its debut, and there's also the low-end "GZ PC-Sport and Power Stepper" for those who prefer more of a seated StairMaster-type workout.

The TreadDesk seems to be shooting for something of a mid-range market, with prices reportedly between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on the model and features. The Walkstation, by contrast, has been estimated around $6,500. Either way, all of this makes us alarmed and terribly depressed.